Blue gas set



Jan. 15, 1952 R, P OLIVEROS 2,582,847

BLUE GAS SET Filed Jan. 29, 1949 VVASHBOX IGNITER Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES FATENT FMQE.

BLUE GAS SET Application January 29, E949, VSerial No.Y 73,469

'f (ol. 1s- 82) 3 Claims. 1

This invention-relates to blue gas or uncarbureted water gas sets.

Blue gas sets heretofore known commonly coinprise a generator connected with anigniter which in turn communicates with awashbox. Inopera tion the bluegas generated during the uprun passes through the igniter, the washbox` and thence through the washer cooler and exhauster. In the operation of such sets with bituminous coal as the fuel in the generator, cracking or dis tillation of tar and volatilesv carried by the make gas. passing' through the igniter takes place in thev flowr of this gas through the igniter with consequent.- forrnation ofpitch, which interferes with the operation of the washbox.' washer cooler and exhauster. For example, the pitch deposits in these units forming emulsions difficultV to han* die and producing deposits which must be removed for satisfactory operation. Further, blue gas sets heretofore employed have involved the use of, valves, such as the well knownhot valves, in the `gas oiitakes leading from the generator including the gas offtake connection between thev generator and theA igniter. These Avalves are in the path of flow of the high temperaturemake gases containing tar and other condensiblies, which tend to deposit on the valve parts. The cost of these valves and the expense of maintaining them in reasonably clean operative condition increases materially the initial cost of the set and the expense of operating and maintaining the set in satisfactory condition.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, compact, efficient blue gas set freeof the abcvenoted olnections to prior known blue gas equipment,

other objects and advantages of this invention will` be apparent from the, following detailed description, thereof.

In the accompanying drawing forming e part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplication a preferred form of this invention Without limiting, the claimed invention tov such. illustrative i instance,

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a blue gas set embodying this invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the set-shown in Figure 1.

The blue gas set of this invention comprises a generator IU, igniter I I and washbox I2 connected as hereinbelow described. The igniter may communicate with a waste heat boiler (not shown), if desired.

The generator III` has at its base a conical grate I3, provided with perforations in the surface,

thereof and having its periphery I4 spaced from the inner side wall of the generator to form an annular opening l5. Disposed below the grate is a Vprillflary air inlet I6 through which air is admitted to the generator and uniformly distributed throughout the base of the fuel bed by means of the annular opening l5 and the perforations in the conical surface of the grate I3, which perforations are so spaced as to effect the desired uniform distribution of the air throughout the base of the. fuel bed. A gas oiftake il leads. fromv below the grate and communicates with a backrun line I8 which leads into valve housing Id. e

The generator is adapted to contain a bed of fuel. desire-bly bituminous coal. The normal level ofv this fuel bed is indicated by the reference character v2l). As the bituminousy coal is conn sumed in the. water gas reaction fresh coal is added through charging opening tI, which is maintained closed. when the generator is not being charged, by a suitable cover. if desired, an automatic charging machine may be mounted on the generator to charge bituminous coal thereinto to. maintain the coal level approximately constant at the height indicated by reference character 2). Leading from the top of the generator above the level of the fuel bed is a permanently unobstructed conduit 22 which connects the top of the generator with the base of the igniter II. Conduit 22 leads into the igniter tangentially to the circumferential body portion thereof just above the conical base 23 of the igniter. In this way the gas stream entering the igniter is given a swirling motion, effootingV the removal of dust and other solid partic-les which settle into the conical bottom 23 from which they can readily be removed, and minimizing deposition on thev checkerbrick within the igniter. Also `leading from the top of the generator above the level 2l! of the fuel bed. therein is a second conduit. or uprun line 2d. This uprun line 24: is separate and independent from the conduit 22 and leads into valve, housing it.

Valve housing t desirably is a substantially rectangular housing. The backrun line it and the. uprun lineA 24 lead into ports in the side walls 25 and 2S of this housing. These two walls, as is evidenti from Figure 2', are at right angles to each other. A port in base 2i' of this housing communicates through a pipe 2t with the wash; boii.f l2., which may be of any Well known type, for examplaa conical washbox as disclosed in Tiveit Patent 353.51% granted April. 10.1945. A swineins, valve: 1:9; is pivotally mounted in. housing. i9

and is arranged to be moved on its pivot so that it closes backrun line I8 and simultaneously opens the uprun line 24, and vice versa closes the latter line and places the backrun line I8 communication with the valve housing I9.

The igniter I I is a checkerbrick containing chamber of any desired type Well known in this art. It is provided with a stack valve 30 through which the burning blast gases may be passed to the atmosphere. A connection 3I is disposed 1n a side wall of the igniter near the top thereof .for connecting the igniter with a waste heat boiler when the latter is employed. If no waste heat boiler is used, -connection 3I is sealed with a suitable closure plate.

A secondary air inlet 32 is provided in the unobstructed passageway 22 for supplying secondary air during the blasting step to support combustion of the blast gases which are burned during their flow through the igniter. A backrun steam inlet 33 leads into the top of the igniter and an uprun steam inlet 34 leads into the backrun pipe. By arranging the parts as shown in the drawing with the igniter disposed laterally to one side of and near the generator and the washbox positioned directly in back of and substantially between the generator and igniter, as shown in Figure 2, a substantial saving in piping is effected.

In operation the bed of bituminous coal in the generator I0 is iirst blasted with air admitted to the generator through I5. the resultant blast gases passing through conduit 22 mixed with secondary air admitted through 32 and the blast gases burned in their flowup through the igniter, exiting through stack valve 30, or, if a waste heat boiler is used, through outlet 3|, thence into and through the waste heat boiler. During the blasting cycle the valve 29 is desirably positioned to close the uprun line 24. At the completion of the blasting step a short uprun is made, valve 29 being positioned to close the backrun line I8 and steam being supplied through inlet 34. This steam ows down through backrun line I8 and then up through the fuel bed, the resultant water gas passing through the uprun line 24 into the valve housing I9, thence to the washbox` A backrun step follows; valve 29 is positioned to close the uprun line 24 and place the backrun line I 8 in communication with the valve housing I 9. Steam is admitted through inlet 33 to the top of the igi niter, ows down therethrough where it is superheated, then ows through the unobstructed passage 22 into and down through the fuel bed in generator I0, the resultant water gas being withdrawn through line I8 and owing through valve housing I9 into washbox I2. At the completion of the backrun step, the main uprun follows. Steam is admitted through inlet 34 and valve 29 is positioned as hereinabove described in connection with the short uprun. The direction of flow of steam and water gas generated is the same as during the short uprun. Thereafter a short air purge may take place, air is admitted through I6 and the producer gas thus generated along-"with the water gas in the top of the generator flowing through the uprun line 24 into the washbox. This completes the cycle of steps and the cycle is thereafter repeated, the fuel bed being replenished as needed through the charging opening 2|. If vdesired during the uprun steps, a small amount of steam may be admitted through steam inlet 33 and passed down through the ig'niter'II into'the top of the generator where it flows with the make gas through the uprun line 24 into the valve housing I9. In this way now of make blue gas into the igniter I I is prevented.

When employing a 4 minute cycle the duration of the steps of the cycle hereinabove described may be divided as follows: blast 30 short uprun 3% to 4%, backrun 55%, and main uprun 12% to 13%.

It will be noted that in the operation of the blue gas set of this invention the blue gas generated does not pass through the igniter. Hen-ce pitch formation due to cracking of tars and volatiles carried by the make gas iiowing through the igniter, as in prior blue gas operation involving the use of bituminous coal as the fuel, does not take place with consequent improvement in the operation of the washbox, washer cooler and exhauster. It will be further noted the blue gas set of this invention is simple and ecient in operation, compact in design and does not involve the use of any hot valves in the gas offtakes leading from the generator. Conduit 22 connecting the generator with the igniter is a permanently open and unobstructed passage free of valve or other gas flow obstructing parts on which tar or other condensibles carried by the gas may deposit. Likewise the uprun and backrun lines are permanently unobstructed passages communicating with the valve housing I9 provided with a swinging valve which can readily be cleaned.

Since diierent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying ldrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A blue gas set consisting essentially of a generator having a grate therein, a single igniter, an unobstructed and valve free passageway connecting the top of the generator with the base of the igniter, a single washbox, a valve housing, a backrun line leading from the base of the generator to the valve housing, an uprun line separate and independent of said unobstructed and valve-free passageway leading from the top of the generator directly to said valve housing, a valve in said housing controlling iiow through said backrun and uprun lines, and a conduit connecting said housing with said Washbox.

2. A blue gas set consisting essentially of a single generator having a grate therein for supporting a bed of bituminous coal, a single igniter. an unobstructed and valve-free passageway connecting the top of the generator with the base of the igniter, a washbox, a valve housing, a backrun line leading from the portion of the generator below the grate to the valve housing, an uprun line separate and independent of said unobstructed and valve-free passageway leading from the portion of the generator above the normal level of'the fuel bed therein directly to said valve housing, a, valve in said housing for controlling flow through said backrun and uprun lines, a conduit connecting said housing with said washbox,

an uprun steam inlet in the backrun line, and a backrun steam inlet at the top of the igniter.

3. A blue gas set consisting essentially of a single generator having a conical grate therein provided with periorations in the conical surface thereof for supporting a bed of bituminous coal, an igniter having a circumferential body portion and a conical base, an unobstructed and valvefree passageway connecting the top of the generator to the base ofthe igniter, the inlet of said passageway into said igniter being tangential to said circumferential body portion and positioned just above said conical base, a washbox positioned between the generator and igniter, a valve housing disposed directly above said washbox, a baokrun line leading from the portion of the generator below the grate into one wall of said valve housing, an uprun line separate and independent of said unobstructed and Valve-free passageway leading from the portion of the generator above the normal level of the fuel bed therein directly to another Wall of said valve housing at right angles to the mst-mentioned wall, a pivoted valve in said housing controlling flow from said backrun and uprun lines into said valve housing, a conduit leading from the base of said housing into said washbox, a backrun steam inlet disposed at the top of the igniter, and an uprun steam inlet disposed in the backrun line.

REGINALD P. OLIVEROS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,767,579 Chrisman June 24, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS m Number Country Date 406,578 Great Britain Mar. l, 1934 473,948 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1937 689,969 France Sept. 15. 1930 

